Children’s Food Practices in Families and Institutions

This academic text offers a sociological examination of how children's experiences with food operate within the key institutions of family, school, and care settings. Drawing on recent UK studies, the book analyzes children's food practices not merely as nutritional intake but as symbolic acts that convey thoughts, feelings, and social relationships. The research connects these everyday food interactions to broader policy discussions and institutional practices, providing a framework for understanding the complex role food plays in children's lives beyond simple sustenance.

What distinguishes this work is its multi-contextual approach, exploring how food functions differently across domestic and institutional environments including residential homes and foster care. The analysis will particularly benefit educators, social workers, policymakers, and researchers seeking to understand the social dimensions of childhood nutrition and implement more child-centered food policies. Through its empirical grounding and theoretical insights, this collection illuminates how food practices shape and reflect children's social worlds and institutional experiences.